- Enrollment
- 2,186
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kent, WA
Panther Lake Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Panther Lake Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530396000628
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panther Lake Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #7 of 19
- schools in Kent · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Washington
- 64.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Panther Lake Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 92% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Lake Elementary School ranks #7 of 19 schools in Kent, WA.
School address
District: Kent School District · Washington
NCES ID 530396000628 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-96 students YoY
Panther Lake Elementary School shrank from 529 students in 2022-23 to 433 in 2023-24 (-18.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 29.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-96 students YoY 530396000628 · Kent, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
396 enr · 11.3:1 · 64.1% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Kentridge High School (2,186 students)
Panther Lake Elementary School shrank from 529 students in 2022-23 to 433 in 2023-24 (-18.1%). Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 29.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Panther Lake Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kentridge High
Kentridge High School
2,186 students
- Kentwood High
Kentwood High School
1,995 students
- Kent-Meridian
Kent-Meridian High School
1,639 students
- Kentlake High
Kentlake High School
1,561 students
- Northwood Midd
Northwood Middle School
911 students
- This school 396
Panther Lake Elementary School
396 students
What this shows Panther Lake Elementary School reports 396 students on the CCD universe file.
How Panther Lake Elementary School compares
Panther Lake Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 36% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.1% | ▲ 42% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 396 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
396
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 36% below state mean
Top 8% in Washington - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,199
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 396 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 31.8%
White 19.7%
Hispanic or Latino 17.2%
African American 13.6%
Two or More 12.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.8%
Largest group: Asian at 31.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 79.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 79.3, Panther Lake Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Kent School District reports $19,199 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Panther Lake Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kentwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kent-Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kentlake High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panther Lake Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,995
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,639
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,561
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 911
- Students per teacher
- 31.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Kent
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sunrise Elementary School
Standard public school
512 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Millennium Elementary School
Standard public school
482 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Scenic Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Park Orchard Elementary School
Standard public school
473 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Martin Sortun Elementary School
Standard public school
450 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Kent Elementary School
Standard public school
438 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~396 students)
Frequently asked questions about Panther Lake Elementary School
How many students attend Panther Lake Elementary School?
Panther Lake Elementary School has 396 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kent, WA. CCD year-over-year: 529 (2022-23) → 433 (2023-24), down 96.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Panther Lake Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 36% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 28% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panther Lake Elementary School?
64.1% of students at Panther Lake Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panther Lake Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Panther Lake Elementary School is Asian at 31.8% of enrollment, in Kent, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 79.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panther Lake Elementary School?
Panther Lake Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Panther Lake Elementary School rank among schools in Kent?
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Lake Elementary School ranks #7 of 19 schools in Kent, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kent on the city page.
What other schools are in Kent School District?
Besides Panther Lake Elementary School, Kent School District also operates Kentridge High School (2,186 students), Kentwood High School (1,995 students), and Kent-Meridian High School (1,639 students). See the Kent School District district page for the complete list.